Parshat Va’etchanan/Shabbat Nachamu August 17, 2019 16 Av, 5779

TORAH Rabbi Sacks on Parshat Va’etchanan ARTSCROLL 958 Over the past few down. But the real freedom dignity and the sanctity of HERTZ 755 months I’ve been having worth having, in his view, is human life. And it is built conversations with freedom-to, meaning the around an act of mutual HAFTORAH leading thinkers, ability to do something that’s commitment, by God to a ARTSCROLL 1196 intellectuals, innovators difficult and requires effort and people and by the people to and philanthropists for a HERTZ 776 expertise. So, for example, if God. BBC series on moral you want to have the freedom The commitment itself is an challenges of the 21st to play the piano, you have to act of love. At the heart of it century. Among those I chain yourself to it and practice are the famous words from spoke to was David every day. Times the Shema in this week’s Brooks, one of the most Freedom in this sense does not parsha: “You shall love the insightful moralists of our mean the absence of restraint, Lord your God with all your Mincha 7:00 pm time. His conversation is but rather, choosing the right heart, with all your soul, always scintillating, but restraint. That involves and with all your Candle Lighting 7:33 pm one remark of his was commitment, which involves a might” (Deut. 6:5). The particularly beautiful. It is choice to forego certain Torah is the foundational Hashkama 8:00 am a key that helps us choices. Then he said: “My narrative of the fraught, unlock the entire project favorite definition of sometimes tempestuous, Parsha Shiur 8:30 am outlined by Moses in commitment is falling in love marriage between God and Sefer Devarim, the fifth with something and then an often obstinate people. It Main 9:00 am and final book of the building a structure of behavior is a story of love. We can Torah. We had been around it for the moment when see how central love is to Beit Midrash 9:15 am talking about covenants love falters.” That struck me as the book of Deuteronomy and commitments. I a beautiful way into one of the by noting how often the Gemara Shiur 6:25 pm suggested that many fundamental features of Sefer root a-h-v, “to love,” people in the West today Devarim specifically, and appears in each of the five are commitment-averse, Mincha 7:25 pm Judaism generally. The book of books of the Torah. It reluctant to bind Deuteronomy is more than occurs 15 times in Genesis, themselves Shabbat Ends 8:40 pm simply Moses’ speeches in the but none of these is about unconditionally and open- last months of his life, his the relationship between endedly to something or Sun. Aug. 18 7:30/8:30 am tzava’ah or ethical will to the God and a human being. someone. The market future generations. It is more, They are about the feelings mindset that Mon. & Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am also, than Mishneh Torah, a of husbands for wives or predominates today recapitulation of the rest of the parents for children. This is Tues., Wed. & Fri. 6:45/7:45 am encourages us to try this, Torah, a restatement of the how often the verb appears Mincha 7:30 pm sample that, experiment laws and history of the people in the other 4 books: and keep our options Latest Times for since their time in Egypt. It is a Exodus – 2; Leviticus – 2; open for the latest Shema/Shemoneh Esrei fundamental theological Numbers – 0; Deuteronomy version or the better statement of what Judaism is – 23. Again and again we deal. Pledges of loyalty about. It is an attempt to hear of love, in both Aug. 17 9:32/10:41 am are few and far between. integrate law and narrative into directions, from the Brooks agreed and noted a single coherent vision of Israelites to God and from Aug. 24 9:35/10:42 am that nowadays freedom is what it would be like to create God to the Israelites. It is usually understood as a society of law-governed the latter that are Next Shabbat freedom - from, meaning liberty under the sovereignty of particularly striking. Here Ekev the absence of restraint. God: a society of justice, are some examples: The We don’t like to be tied compassion, respect for human Lord did not set His Mincha 7:00 pm Kiddush is provided by

Candle Lighting 7:23 pm Great Neck Synagogue 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck, NY 11023 (516) 487-6100 Shabbat Announcements Va’etchanan 5779 affection on you and choose you because you were more sustained the love between God and a people. You hear the numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all cadences of that love throughout the generations. It is peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you…(Deut. 7:7- there in the book of Psalms: “You, God, are my God, 8) earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest water” (Ps. 63:1). It is there in Isaiah: “Though the heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set His mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My affection on your ancestors and loved them, and He chose unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is peace be removed” (Is. 54:10). It is there in the siddur, in today. (Deut. 10:14-15) The Lord your God would not listen the blessing before the Shema: “You have loved us with to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, great love / with everlasting love.” It is there, passionately, because the Lord your God loves you. (Deut 23:5) in the song, Yedid Nefesh, composed in the sixteenth The real question is how this vision is connected to the century by Safed kabbalist Elazar Azikri. It remains there in legal, halakhic content of much of Devarim. On the one the songs composed year after year in present-day Israel. hand we have this passionate declaration of love by God for Whether they speak of God’s love for us or ours for Him, a people; on the other we have a detailed code of law the love remains strong after 33 centuries. That is a long covering most aspects of life for individuals and the nation time for love to last, and we believe it will do so forever. as a whole once it enters the land. Law and love are not Could it have done so without the rituals, the 613 two things that go obviously together. What has the one to commands, that fill our days with reminders of God’s do with the other? That is what David Brooks’ remark presence? I think not. Whenever Jews abandoned the life suggests: commitment is falling in love with something and of the commands, within a few generations they lost their then building a structure of behavior around it to sustain identity. Without the rituals, eventually love dies. With that love over time. Law, the mitzvoth, halakhah, is that them, the glowing embers remain, and still have the power structure of behavior. Love is a passion, an emotion, a to burst into flame. Not every day in a long and happy heightened state, a peak experience. But an emotional marriage feels like a wedding, but even love grown old will state cannot be guaranteed forever. We wed in poetry but still be strong, if the choreography of fond devotion, the we stay married in prose. Which is why we need laws, ritual courtesies and kindnesses, are sustained. In the vast rituals, habits of deed. Rituals are the framework that keeps literature of halakhah we find the ‘how’ and ‘what’ of love alive. I once knew a wonderfully happy married couple. Jewish life, but not always the ‘why.’ The special place of The husband, with great devotion, brought his wife Sefer Devarim in Judaism as a whole is that here, more breakfast in bed every morning. I am not entirely sure she clearly than almost anywhere else, we find the ‘why.’ needed or even wanted breakfast in bed every morning, but Jewish law is the structure of behavior built around the she graciously accepted it because she knew it was the love between God and His people, so that the love remains homage he wished to pay her, and it did indeed keep their long after the first feelings of passion have grown old. love alive. After decades of marriage, they still seemed to Hence the life-change idea: if you seek to make love be on their honeymoon. undying, build around it a structure of rituals – small acts Without intending any precise comparison, that is what the of kindness, little gestures of self-sacrifice for the sake of vast multiplicity of rituals in Judaism, many of them spelled the beloved – and you will be rewarded with a quiet joy, an out in the book of Deuteronomy, actually achieved. They inner light, that will last a lifetime.

Great Neck Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus Welcomes your questions about mikvah, observance of taharat mishpacha (halacha relating to married life) and women’s health, as it connects to Jewish law. Reach out to her at: Phone: 516.415.1111 Email: [email protected].

Great Neck Synagogue 26 Old Mill Road, Great Neck , NY 11023 516-487-6100

Rabbi Dale Polakoff, Rabbi Rabbi Ian Lichter, Assistant Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Wolf, z”l, Rabbi Emeritus Yitzy Spinner, Cantor Eleazer Schulman, z”l, Cantor Emeritus Rabbi Sholom Jensen, Youth Director Zehava & Dr. Michael Atlas, Youth Directors Mark Twersky, Executive Director Dr. James Frisch, Assistant Director Erran Kagan, President Harold Domnitch, Chairman of the Board Lisa Septimus, Yoetzet Halacha 516-415-1111 MEN’S CLUB EVENTS, GNS CHESED & SISTERHOOD ROSH HASHANA CARDS

Sisterhood is selling beautiful Rosh Hashanah cards designed by Celia Lemonik Cost is $18 for 10 cards or $2 each ANNOUNCEMENTS Rabbi Polakoff’s shabbos drasha through 5779 COMMUNITY NEWS is dedicated in memory of DOVID BEN NISSAN v’LEAH For other such opportunities please contact BIKE4CHAI Howard Wolf 516-643-3344 On August 14 and 15, Gavi and Chazzan Yitzy Spinner will IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS MOVING INTO THE participate in Bike 4 Chai, a 180 mile cycling challenge to GREAT NECK AREA PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW. raise funds for Chai Lifeline in honor of Gavi’s upcoming Bar Mitzvah. The finish line will be Camp Simcha, a HASHKAMA MINYAN KIDDUSH summer camp for children with cancer and other life- Hashkama Minyan Kiddush is sponsored by Raylene & threatening illnesses. Please donate to their page to help Andrew Adler in memory of his father Bernard Adler, z”l support this amazing organization. Thank you! and by Pam & Jeff Bilfeld in memory of his mother https://www.bike4chai.com/spinner. Florence Bilfeld, z”l. BIKUR CHOLIM GNS AUGUST CHESSED COLLECTION If you would like to volunteer to call, visit and/or deliver School Supplies, including crayons, markers, loose leafs, homemade or store bought challah/dessert on behalf of glue, scissors, paper, rulers, knapsacks etc. are being Bikur Cholim, please contact [email protected]. This is also collected to be donated to Oneg Shabbos. Please drop off a great opportunity for bar and bat mitzvah chesed projects. at either the Wallenstein home, 3 Ridge Drive East, or the Berman home, 11 Margaret Court. Please place bags with HATZOLAH IN GREAT NECK supplies in box at front door of these homes. There is now a permanent Hatzolah ambulance in Great NEW HIGH HOLIDAY PAROCHET - Neck. If needed, please call 718.387.1750. MENDER AUDITORIUM SIGN UP FOR A MEAL TRAIN A new Parochet is needed for the Aron Kodesh in the These “Meal Baby” invitations are emailed out to a general Mender Auditorium. If you are interested in dedicating the list and individuals sign up to be responsible for a meal. The Parochet, please contact Howard Wolf at either meal can be prepared at home or provided by a store with 516.643.3344 or 516.487.6100. acceptable hashgacha within our community. Although this SISTERHOOD MEETING AND ROSH HASHANAH is usually done for a new baby, it is sometimes also done to CARDS FOR SALE assist a family during a time of illness. If you want to check Please join us on Wednesday, September 4th at that your name is on the list, please contact 8:00pm for our Sisterhood monthly planning meeting. It [email protected]. will be held at the home of Judy Lillien, 35 Margaret Court. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! Sisterhood is selling beautiful Rosh Hashanah cards designed by Celia Lemonik – they cost $18 for 10 cards or $2 each. For more information, contact Judy Lillien at (516) 487-6845. MEN’S CLUB EVENTS Sunday, September 8th at 1:00 pm: NY Jets vs Buffalo Bills: Tickets are $110 per seat and $90 for MC members.

Sunday, September 22nd at 9:30 am: Fishing Trip at Saturday, 16 Av

Inspiration Wharf in Port Washington. Cost is $65 for MC Bonnie Diamond for Beatrice Brandeis Scott Danoff for Zita Danoff members which includes brunch and equipment. $80 for Morris Hodkin for Elizabeth Hodkin non MC members and $60 for children under age of 12. Leo Mindick for Fannie Rubinstein PASS IT FORWARD FOR ROSH HASHANAH Cheryl Sneag for Lawrence Sneag If you would like to organize or host a cooking/baking Y Henry Katz for Sonia Suskin event such as a bake-a-thon, kugel-a-thon, brisket A Belkis Nasser for Selma Suveke olympics, matzah ball party, etc., please contact Marla Sunday, 17 Av Lemonik at [email protected]. The food you cook/ H Janet Kashani for Sarah bat Yacob bake will be donated to GNS Pass It Forward for needy Ori Pagovich for Benjamin Pagovich R families to uplift their spirits for the holiday. Great fun for Tuesday, 19 Av Judith Traub for Rebecca Hechtkopf adults, and potential chesed project for bar/bat mitzvahs. Z Wednesday, 20 Av FREEZER SPACE NEEDED E Paul Weinberg for Ise Klein Freezer space is needed to store food for needy families for I Rivka Rosenberg for Sara Zaharon Rosh Hashanah for GNS Pass It Forward. Please contact T Thursday, 21 Av Cindy Hodkin at [email protected]. Thank you! Jeff Bilfeld for Florence Bilfeld Friday, 22 Av SHABBAT FOOD Lauren Abehsera for Eugene Stricker Friday drop-offs are continuing at 91 Baker Hill Rd before Carl Rosenberg for Bluma Miller 1:30 pm. Please place wrapped food in coolers on front Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Shoshana bat Shlomo Gabbai porch. Ebrahim Gabbaizadeh for Dovid ben Meir